Media captionNicola Sturgeon says she will take steps to ensure the UK government respects her request for a Section 30 order First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said there is “no rational reason” for the UK government to block a second Scottish independence referendum. Ms Sturgeon has written to Prime Minister Theresa May asking for a [...]

Media caption‘We’re committed to quick operations on the NHS’ – NHS England boss Simon Stevens Patients will face longer waits for operations such as knee and hip replacements in a “trade-off” for improved care in other areas, NHS England boss Simon Stevens says. He said growing pressures meant he could no longer guarantee treatment in [...]

Media captionMr Tusk said the UK must honour its financial commitments to the EU The EU has outlined its Brexit strategy, suggesting trade talks could begin after “sufficient progress” on a separation settlement with the UK. The draft guidelines, announced by European Council President Donald Tusk in Malta, advocate a “phased approach”. They will be [...]

Image caption Emergency services were called to Greyhound Lane, Norton, just after 08:00 BST A mother and her 13-year-old son have died after being stabbed in their home. The woman, her husband and the child were found with serious stab wounds by emergency services called to Greyhound Lane, Norton, Stourbridge, just after 08:00 BST. A [...]

Image copyright Google Five people have been killed in a helicopter crash in north Wales. A massive air and land search was launched on Wednesday afternoon after the aircraft vanished en route from Luton to Dublin. Supt Gareth Evans of North Wales Police said on Thursday the crash site had been located and the bodies [...]

Media caption“We will end the supremacy of EU law” – Davis Thousands of EU laws on everything from workers’ rights to the environment are to be transferred into UK law as the country gears up for Brexit. Brexit Secretary David Davis said the Great Repeal Bill would allow the UK Parliament and Welsh, Scottish and [...]

Image copyright Getty Images Image caption The meeting will be behind closed doors with no media, at Dylan’s request Bob Dylan will finally accept his Nobel Prize for Literature in Stockholm this weekend, the academy has announced. The American singer was awarded the prize in October but failed to travel to pick up the award, [...]

Image copyright Reuters EU regulators have blocked London Stock Exchange’s £21bn merger with German stock exchange Deutsche Boerse. The European Commission said the deal would have created a “de facto monopoly” for certain financial services. The merger would have combined Europe’s two largest stock exchange operators. London Stock Exchange Group said it “regrets” the commission’s [...]

Image caption Andreea Cristea was on holiday with Andrei Burnaz The family of a Romanian woman who fell into the Thames during the Westminster attack say they have been overwhelmed by “love, support and respect” for her. Andreea Cristea, 29, was on holiday with boyfriend Andrei Burnaz, when they were driven at by Khalid Masood [...]

Image copyright Daily Mail/Solo Syndication The wife of Westminster attacker Khalid Masood has said she is “saddened and shocked” and condemned his actions. In a statement issued through police, Rohey Hydara expressed her condolences to the families of the dead and wished a “speedy recovery” to those injured. Masood killed three people when he drove [...]